The 5% threshold and the electorate "lifeboat" explained
Why a party on 4.9% can get no seats while one on 1% gets in. How New Zealand's 5% threshold and one-electorate rule work, with real examples from past elections.
In this guide
On election night, few numbers matter as much as 5%. A party that crosses it shares in Parliament's 120 seats. A party that falls just short, and doesn't win an electorate, gets nothing, and its votes don't become seats.
But there's a second way in: win just one electorate, and a party shares in the seats in line with its party vote, even well below 5%. This is often called the electorate lifeboat or coat-tailing.
Quick answer
- To share in list seats, a party needs 5% of the party vote or at least one electorate seat.
- 5% is worth about six seats in a 120-seat Parliament.
- A party under 5% that wins an electorate gets list seats in line with its party vote.
- A party under 5% with no electorate gets no list seats. Its party votes are effectively "wasted".
- The rule hasn't changed for 2026.
How the threshold works
After the count, the Electoral Commission works out which parties qualify. Only qualifying parties' votes are used to share out seats using the Sainte-Laguë formula. A party qualifies if it:
- wins at least 5% of all party votes, or
- wins at least one electorate seat.
Winning any electorate seat automatically qualifies a party, however small its party vote. Independent candidates can also win electorates, but they have no party vote to share.
Real examples from past elections
| Election | Party | Party vote | Electorate won? | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NZ First | 4.07% | No | 0 |
| 2008 | ACT | 3.65% | Yes, Epsom | 5 |
| 2014 | Conservatives | 3.97% | No | 0 |
| 2014 | ACT | 0.69% | Yes, Epsom | 1 |
| 2020 | NZ First | 2.6% | No | 0 |
| 2023 | Te Pāti Māori | 3.1% | Yes, six | 6 |
| 2023 | Opportunity | 2.2% | No | 0 |
The 2008 comparison is the classic example: NZ First got more party votes than ACT but no seats, while ACT got five because it won Epsom.
Why it matters on election night
- A party hovering around 5% can swing between six seats and none as the count goes on.
- Close electorates that could bring in a small party become crucial. Winning one can be worth several seats.
- Wasted votes change everyone else's share. When parties miss the threshold, the qualifying parties share all 120 seats between them, so each gets slightly more than its raw percentage.
How much is 5% worth?
In a 120-seat Parliament, each seat represents roughly 0.83% of the qualifying party vote. A party on exactly 5% would get about six seats. A party on 4.9% with no electorate gets zero. It's a steep cliff, which is why parties near the line campaign hard for electorate seats and why small changes in the count matter.
The debate about the threshold
The threshold and the lifeboat rule have been reviewed more than once:
- The Royal Commission that recommended MMP in 1986 suggested a 4% threshold.
- The Electoral Commission's 2012 MMP review recommended lowering the threshold to 4% and abolishing the one-electorate rule.
- The Independent Electoral Review reported in 2023 and recommended a 3.5% threshold and abolishing the one-electorate rule.
None of these threshold changes has been made, so the 2026 election uses the same 5% and one-electorate rules as every election since 1996. Supporters of the current rules say they keep Parliament stable and reward local support. Critics say they waste votes and treat parties unequally.
Questions and answers
What is the 5% threshold in NZ elections?
A party needs at least 5% of the party vote, or to win at least one electorate, to share in the seats allocated by party vote.
What is coat-tailing?
When a party wins an electorate and so gets list seats in line with its party vote, even though it's below 5%. It's also called the electorate lifeboat.
What happens to votes for parties below 5%?
If the party wins no electorate, its party votes don't turn into seats. The qualifying parties share all the seats between them.
Has the threshold changed for 2026?
No. It's still 5% or one electorate seat.
How many seats is 5% worth?
About six seats in a 120-seat Parliament.
Sources
- Electoral Commission: MMP threshold rules and 2012 MMP review.
- Te Ara: parties in Parliament 1999–2023.
- 2023 New Zealand general election.
This guide is general information about New Zealand elections, checked against the sources linked above on 3 November 2026. For anything about your own enrolment or vote, check vote.nz or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.
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